Hope

Chapter 4

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As the days went by, it's already Friday. And all the classes I had was great, it will be greater if Jace isn't sitting beside me.

Tonight we're camping out.

Just got to wait for a few more hours, we can let loose.

I step out in our gym clothes, and roll up my sleeves.

"I smell a bitch," Aaron stood beside me. He stretched his hands and exhaled.

"Great to be back in this town, Aaron." I stated.

The coach walks in with a basketball in his hands.

"Please tell me the girls are playing basketball." I mumbled.

I cross my fingers and squeeze my eyes tight.

"Girls, today you will be playing basketball-- Oh well, Alex Anderson. Nice to see you again." My eyes immediately shot open.

"Coach Randy." The strict basketball coach. He really likes to go tough on me.

"Well.. Ms Anderson here is in charge of basketball today, with Mr Collins... Where is he?" Coach tiptoed to look around for Jace.

I sighed when he came in, "you're 10 minutes late, Jace." Coach took a glance at his watch.

"I am sorry and will do the punishment later." Jace quickly apologizes.

"Ok whatever, Jace and Alex here will be in-charge of the teams. It's mixed boys and girls. Each team MUST be equal."

I look at Jace, "guess we're competing each other." I muttered.

"Sure win." Jace and I did our small little handshake secretly and look at the class.

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"Wow, Anderson. I am very impressed." Jace says as we walk out to meet the others.

"But I won!" He jumps in the air, smiling brightly.

"I won, Anderson!" I frown at how childish he is being and shook my head at him.

"Hey you both!" Realm Williams hit on the car horn three times.

"It's time to hit the road!" Eve screams.

"Come on, fags. Let's not waste time." Aaron walks past us.

I hope it's a good night.

I hope.

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"Alex, get some branches for later alright?" Eve started ordering us around. She's always like that, she always put the fun aside first. 

"It's gonna be very heavy, Anderson!" Aaron shouts, setting up the tents. 

"I am a strong person," i stated. I shot a wink at him and laughed, i walk away and flashbacks of my ex-boyfriend started to play in my head.

It was painful for the both of us. 

                                   Flashback

Mr Poppers' Literature Class. 

I watch the rain start to pour heavily, I let out a sigh-- the sky can cry; why can't I?

"Ms Anderson. Instead of looking out of the window, read us your poem." Mr Poppers call out for me, i nodded and stood up. 

With all my courage, i took a deep breath in, "I don't remember the day we met, honestly. But deeply, when i first saw you, it felt like the whole world just vanished. It was just you and I. In my head, there's a memory of you promising me that you won't leave. But our fingers began slipping, suddenly we were no longer holding hands. And just like our fingers undid themselves from each other, sadly and slowly our hearts did the same thing." 

                                  End Of Flashback

I carried the branches and small sticks back to our camping site, quietly struggling with it. 

"You should ask for help next time," Jace mentions when i put it on the ground. "Why? I am perfectly fine." I stated, breathing heavily. 

"You got a small cut on your face," he points out. He took a step towards me, his hand raised up. "Who got a cut on their face?!" Eve shouted, dropping everything she have in her arms. 

Jace quickly took a few steps back, Eve then came into my view. "Are you okay?!" I laughed at her reaction. 

"Perfectly fine." 

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After playing in the lake, we all settled in by the fire. "So, Alex is back.. The clique is back." Eve smiles excitedly. 

"Yeah, how have you been doing? Still love basketball?" Aaron questions. "Of course i do, i stopped playing for a pretty long time now." I responded. 

"Oh, but you tried out for the team right?" I nodded in response and put my hands in my hoodie. 

"So, how's your love life?" Realm ask, and everyone lean forward except for Jace, who's not interested at all.

I mean, why would he be?

"I had a boyfriend, we lasted for almost a year." I say, avoiding everyone's gaze. "What happened then?" Cameron's eyebrows were furrowed. 

"I was still in love with someone else, I felt so bad for him.. My ex-boyfriend. All along, i was just trying to forget this someone else by using him. The thing is, I couldn't forget him. He's my love. There will always be a piece of him in my heart." I blurted out everything and took in a deep breath. 

"I remember when I was little, my mom told me not to play with matches but when I was fourteen I knew I loved you when I saw you and I realized you were the match that ignited my fire that hurt me so freaking bad." My eyes flick to Jace for a second, and he was looking at me. 

I looked away, feeling pathetic as ever.